Your opinions... Max Tongue weight Tone's Hidden Hitch

[tom4bren]

Welder guy thinks it's definitely do-able. We'll hafta take some time to make sure we take all the variables into consideration. The first step will be to get my hands on a trashed OEM rim that I can use to make sure it fits. My offset rims won't be any help to everyone else (Marlin's spare tire mount is significantly different than mine because of offset).

[Riff Raff]

Agreed; the "Tire Gate" is way cool, but it's too bad it won't fit using the TONE Hitch. It may possibly fit those who have the CURT Hitch on their VX which hangs down a bit lower. Here are some other ideas for you to consider in your quest to mount an external spare tire:

o Check-out www.JCWhitney.com and do a search for "Spare Tire". The website will show you multiple mounting systems, including versions that insert into a 2" receiver hitch. The main concern is to determine if the bracket tongue is long enough to clear the rear door "bubble hump" of the VX. Yes; the bracket/spare would have to be removed each time before opening the rear door of the VX, but it may solve your stowage problem.

o Another possible solution is to have a front-mounted 2" receiver hitch and mount your spare tire on the FRONT of the VX (very simular to pick-up's with a Camper). Fellow VX member "ORION" had a very stealth 2" receiver hitch (early version) that was hidden by his front license plate. Perhaps contact "ORION" for ideas & advice and check-out his Photo Gallery, as he is a very smart fabricator.

o If you decide to go the route of drilling holes in your rear VX door, then contact fellow VX member "MARLIN" for advice and check-out his Photo Gallery. I believe he used a NISSAN external rear door spare tire bracket (which uses our same wheel lug pattern of 6-5.5), that he found in a junk yard for cheap.

o Lastly, when choosing a "full size spare"-- try to get the narrowest and lightest tire you can find that has the same exact (or damn close) O.D. to the tires you're currently running. Having a very skinny (235, 245, 255 series width, etc) and also lightweight (P-series; not LT) external spare tire with the same matching O.D. will help minimize weight on your chosen external bracket system, and will still be kind to your TOD if the spare is ever used on the VX in an emergency.

Hope this info helps you in some way, and good luck on your mission. Let us know how you eventually solved your problem.